Ruth Vance Walker

WALKER, RUTH VANCE – age 97, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Born in Knoxville, Tenn., to the late Edna Sterchi Vance and Charles Kennedy Vance, she graduated from Old Knoxville High School and the University of Tennessee. She was a lifetime active member of Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church where she laid the first brick in 1925 when the present building was built. She loved her church, attended regularly for 97 years, and was proud of its diverse congregation. She worked in the Home Economics department of the University of Tennessee until after World War II while her husband, the late Basil Walker, was stationed overseas with the Army. He was the love of her life. She was a strong woman who raised two teen-aged sons alone and managed Walker Printing Co. after her husband's death in 1963, making her a pioneer businesswoman in Knoxville. Among her most treasured legacies that she left her family were her courage, determination, desire for justice and sense of humor. When she became blind, her comment was "The good thing about this is that although a person's race should have never mattered, I was brought up in a world where it did. Now that I can't see a person's skin color, it doesn't matter." Ruth laughed often, loved generously and ate hot Mexican peppers like candy! Her husband Basil Walker, brother Bill Vance and sister Elizabeth Burkhart, preceded Mrs. Walker in death. She is survived by her sons Dennis Walker and wife Willie; David Walker and wife Donna; grandchildren Anthony Walker and wife Cyndi, Angela Walker, Andrew Walker, Carolyn Walker and husband Lee Smith, Charlotte Walker Kotas and husband Will; great grandchildren Piper Walker, McKenna Walker, Sylvia Kotas; and many loving nieces and nephews. There will be a graveside service at Woodlawn Cemetery on Woodlawn Pike at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, 2013 with the Reverend James Bailes officiating. A memorial service will be held later at Magnolia Avenue Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church, 2600 Magnolia Ave., Knoxville TN 37914. Online condolences may be sent to www.rosemortuary.com. Arrangements provided by Rose Mortuary Broadway Chapel.

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Ruth Vance Walker

April 24, 1916 - May 4, 2013